Extraordinary Gifts
The Downers Grove Public Library Foundation is committed to funding extraordinary gifts that impact our library and community. Below are some of our recent efforts that have done just that–including everything from funding the library’s social work program to making colorblind glasses available for checkout.
Social Work Program
In 2022, the DGPL Foundation began funding a stipend to compensate two interns as part of the library’s social work program, which connects patrons to resources for temporary housing, employment, counseling, and more.
Public Art
We are proud to fund gifts that enhance the library’s art collection, providing access to art for all. The foundation’s support directly aligns with the library’s strategic objectives to not only enrich the community’s experience through art collections, but to connect people to the arts and cultural programs that embrace equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Summer Reading Club
The foundation regularly supports DGPL’s Summer Reading Club, which encourages kids and adults to dive into books all summer long. We both help fund prizes and assist the library in their sponsorship requests.
Non-Residential Library Card Fees
The Downers Grove Public Library Foundation believes no one should be denied use of the public library because they cannot afford the fees. We are glad to pay one-half the cost of an out-of-district library card for those with financial need. The foundation supplemented the cost of 61 cards in 2023 and 54 cards in 2024 to ensure access to all members of our community.
Microfilm Machine
The foundation funded a new microfilm machine in 2026. The machine helps patrons explore historical archives, including copies of Downers Grove Reporter and the US Census Ilinois dating back to 1840.
The Legacy Wall
The foundation helped fund the library’s hosting of the Legacy Wall for all of Pride Month 2023. The traveling exhibit highlights LGBTQ+ figures throughout history, with more than 125 mini-biographies.
Korean Books Deposit Collection
DGPL added an Adult World Languages Collection in 2016, including Chinese, Polish, and Spanish books. With the foundation’s help, the library started a Korean collection in response to popular demand, purchasing 25 titles in 2022.
Kids Room Play Wall
The foundation helped fund the library’s hosting of the Legacy Wall for all of Pride Month 2023. The traveling exhibit highlights LGBTQ+ figures throughout history, with more than 125 mini-bIn 2022, the foundation funded a new Discovery Box for the kids’ play area at DGPL, providing a high quality, developmentally appropriate play experience for parents and children. The play area is designed to be aesthetically pleasing while promoting early literacy skills.
EnChroma Colorblind Glasses
The foundation purchased EnChroma glasses for DGPL’s Anything Emporium. EnChroma glasses are designed to improve color vision of people with forms of anomalous trichromacy, which are estimated to comprise four out of five cases of color blindness.
Illinois Libraries Presents
The library’s inaugural ILP membership, funded by DGPLF in 2022, enabled access to events with high profile authors like Nick Offerman, Jeff Tweedy, Michelle Zauner, and Marlee Matlin, reaching patrons with world class presentations.
Expanded Online Offerings
To meet community need in extraordinary circumstances during COVID-19, in March 2020 the foundation quickly approved a request for $10,000 to expand the library’s online collection. Funds established by a bequest from former librarian Lilian Culbertson provided more than 250 e-book and audio book titles now available to children, teens, and adults.
Satellite Stacks
In 2019, the foundation’s one-time $11,500 gift funded this inaugural program, which placed deposit collections, including large-print and audio materials, in senior living centers across Downers Grove (Immanuel Residences, Lacey Creek Supportive Living, Oak Trace Senior Living, Oak Tree Towers, Peace Memorial Manor, and Saratoga Grove Retirement & Assisted Living), engaging more than 1200 seniors where they are.
Book Club Bags
A growing number of book clubs rely on DGPL to provide materials for engagement and discussion. In 2018, the foundation kickstarted the new Book Club Bags program with a gift of $10,000 exclusively in books, made possible through the Lillian Culbertson bequest. Cardholders can pick up to-go book bags, complete with discussion guides and recommendations from librarians they know and love.